How does it work?

Xalatan eye drops contain the active ingredient latanoprost,which is a type of medicine called a prostaglandin analogue. It is used totreat raised pressure within the eyeball.

The pressure within the eyeball is naturally maintained by acontinuous flow of liquid called aqueous humour through the eyeball. Aqueoushumour is produced by a part of the eye called the ciliary body. It drains outof the eyeball through channels called the trabecular meshwork. If the outflowof aqueous humour is blocked, the aqueous humour builds up inside the eye,increasing the pressure within the eyeball. This pressure needs to be reduced,as otherwise it can damage the optic nerve and impair vision as aresult.

Latanoprost reduces the pressure in the eye by mimicking theaction of a naturally-occuring prostaglandin. Prostaglandins are a group ofnatural body chemicals found in many places in the body. In the eye, theyincrease the drainage of the aqueous humour out of the eyeball. Latanoprost isa synthetic prostaglandin that acts on the same receptors in the eye as thenatural prostaglandins. It therefore causes an increase in the drainage ofaqueous humour out of the eyeball. This decreases the pressure within the eye.Latanoprost is used to lower raised pressure in the eye, for example inglaucoma.

The eye drops should be put into the affected eye(s) once a day.The medicine is most effective if the drops are applied in the evening. Youshould not exceed the recommended dose, as using the drops more frequently thanthis can actually decrease their effect.

What is it used for?

• Open angle glaucoma.
• Raised pressure in the eye (ocular hypertension).

Warning!

• This medicine is not to be taken by mouth.
• When using these eye drops you should take care to not touch the dropper tip to any surface, or to your eye, in order to avoid contaminating the eye drops.
• Xalatan eye drops contain the preservative benzalkonium chloride, which can be absorbed by contact lenses and cause eye irritation. If you wear contact lenses, you should remove them before putting in these eye drops. You should wait at least 15 minutes after using the drops before putting your contact lenses back in.
• It is recommended that immediately after administering the eye drops, you press on the tear duct (at the corner of the eye closest to your nose) for about one minute. This is to minimise the amount of medicine that may be absorbed into the bloodstream and increase the local effect in the eye.
• These eye drops may cause your vision to blur temporarily after you have put them in your eye. Do not drive or operate machinery until this has worn off.
• Xalatan eye drops should be stored in a refrigerator at 2-8°C before opening. After opening the eye drops may kept outside of the fridge, but do not store them above 25°C. Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
• Xalatan eye drops are sterile until opened. The bottles contain a preservative that helps keep the eye drops sterile once they are in use. However, any medicine remaining in the bottle after the bottle has been open for four weeks or more is likely to be contaminated with germs and should no longer be used. Dispose of carefully, preferably by returning to your pharmacy. You may find it helpful to write the date of first opening on the packet.
• This medicine can cause your eye colour to gradually change, by increasing the amount of brown pigment in your iris. This is not associated with any symptoms and is not harmful. It predominately happens in people with green-brown, yellow-brown or blue/grey-brown eyes. If the drops are only used in one eye, this may cause your eyes to permanently become different colours. Ask your doctor, eye specialist or pharmacist for more information.
• While using this medicine you should have regular eye examinations.

Use with caution in

• Closed angle glaucoma.
• Glaucoma caused by accumulation of pigment particles in the drainage channels of the eye (pigmentary glaucoma).
• Glaucoma caused by inflammation inside the eye (inflammatory glaucoma).
• Glaucoma caused by the growth of new blood vessels over the iris (neovascular glaucoma).
• Glaucoma present from birth (congenital glaucoma).
• Inflammatory conditions of the eye, eg conjunctivitis.
• People with an artificial lens in the eye (pseudophakia).
• People with no lens in the eye (aphakia).
• Closed or blocked retinal vein.
• Diabetes affecting the eyes (diabetic retinopathy).
• Asthma.

Not to be used in

• Pregnancy.
• Breastfeeding.
• There is insufficient information regarding the safety and efficacy of this medicine in children. It is not recommended for children.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one orany of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you havepreviously experienced such anallergy.If you feel you haveexperienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform yourdoctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy orbreastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy orbreastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to theunborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning apregnancy, before using any medicine.

• The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been established, therefore it should not be used by pregnant women. Women who could get pregnant should use an effective method of contraception to avoid getting pregnant while using these eye drops. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.
• This medicine can pass into breast milk after being applied into the eye. The manufacturer states that it should not be used by women who are breastfeeding. Mothers who need to use this medicine should not breastfeed. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individualpeople in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that areknown to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is statedhere does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that orany side effect.

• Temporary blurred vision after application.
• Change in colour of the iris (the coloured part of the eye - see warning above).
• Darkening, thickening and lengthening of the eyelashes.
• Eye irritation.
• Sensation of something in the eye(s).
• Red eye(s) due to increased blood supply (hyperaemia).
• Inflammation of the eyelid(s) (blepharitis).
• Eye pain.
• Rash.
• Swelling of the eyelid(s) or around the eye due to excess fluid retention (oedema).
• Inflammation of the iris (iritis).
• Inflammation of the front parts of the eye (uveitis).
• Swelling of the area at the back of the eye responsible for seeing fine detail (macular oedema).
• Swelling or erosions of the cornea.
• Darkening of the eyelid(s).
• Shortness of breath (dyspnoea).
• Worsening of asthma.
• Chest pain.
• Headache.
• Dizziness.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the sideeffects reported by the drug'smanufacturer.For moreinformation about any other possible risks associated with this medicine,please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctoror pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

You should always tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicinesyou are already using, including those bought without a prescription and herbalmedicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check withyour doctor or pharmacist before using any new medicines while using this one,to ensure that thecombination is safe.

If you are using more than one type of eye drop you shouldadminister them at least five minutes apart, to prevent the second drop washingaway the first. Use eye gels or ointments last.

These eye drops should not be used in combination with otherprostaglandin analogue eye drops, because the combination may actually increasethe pressure in the eye.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

There are currently no other medicines available in the UK thatcontain latanoprost as the sole active ingredient.

Xalacom eye dropscontain latanoprost in combination with the beta-blocker medicinetimolol.